The APA 7th Edition Abstract

An abstract is a concise summary of your research paper, typically ranging from 150 to 250 words. It serves as a standalone overview, providing readers with enough information to determine the relevance of your work to their interests.

Purpose of the Abstract:

• Preview: Gives readers a quick overview of your research before they decide to read the full paper.
• Indexing: Allows databases to index your work, making it easier for researchers to find relevant studies.
• Standalone: Should be understandable on its own, even without the full paper.

Key Elements of an APA 7th Edition Abstract:

1. Motivation/Problem: What research problem or question does your study address?
2. Method: How did you conduct your study (e.g., participants, design, measures)?
3. Results: What were the main findings of your study?
4. Conclusion/Implications: What are the key conclusions and implications of your research?

Additional Tips for Constructing an Effective Abstract:

• Keywords: Include 3 to 5 keywords at the end of your abstract to enhance searchability.
• Accuracy: Ensure your abstract accurately reflects the content of your paper.
• Clarity: Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon and overly technical terms.
• Impartiality: Write in an objective and unbiased manner.
• No Citations: Generally, avoid citations in the abstract unless absolutely necessary.
• Past Tense: Use the past tense to describe what you did in your study.
• Active Voice: Prefer the active voice for clarity and conciseness.

Formatting the Abstract (APA 7th Edition):